Viewfinder dust/debris?

thequeenscheese

Senior Member
As a follow up to my focus lens issue thread I thought it best to start a new thread on this minor issue.

I seem to have accumulated a lot of dust/debris inside the viewfinder although it's not a problem to the finished images it is extremely annoying now I know I can live with it and most likely will have to but I've 2 Nikon dslr's now and both suffered from this (after I took possession of then one a used d3200 and my current new from d5300).
Is it possible to clean easily inside the view finder, I can see there's a small screw on the back just near the viewing lens and I'm wondering if that comes out?, there's another lens that seems fixed behind the focus ring and I'm guessing that's a no entry option?
Also where does all this stuff come from?, I can only assume that Nikon have a poor standard of finish to this area or at least on the entry models and that this stuff is already inside the viewfinder and works its way down onto the fixed lens near the focus lens?
 

thequeenscheese

Senior Member
Yes 99.9% certain it's not the mirror but it is hard to check that tbh with the glass screen I front of it that lifts with the mirror and the gap left is minimal I've had the blower in there but I could try harder I guess with some cleaning buds maybe..
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
My D5300 has the same problem with dust that moves around in the viewfinder. I am 99% sure it is on the focus screen. After doing a lot of Google research, I decided it wasn't worth doing anything about it. It has been a long time since I looked, but I think I watched some YouTube Videos on playing with it and cleaning, but I really don't remember much more than it wasn't worth it to me to do anything. Ha!
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
The dust you can see in the viewfinder is usually located either under the focusing screen or sometimes above it. Yes it can be removed for cleaning but it is a bit of a burden. One can use a very fine and delicate brush to try removing the dust inside the mirror box that got attracted to the focusing glass but you have to be careful because it scratches really easy. This is the dust that should be removed first since when the mirror flips up and down, it can pull the dust and then the sensor electric field attracts it.

But removing the focusing screen to clean above it requires a special tool that is available, but is sometimes a tricky thing to do and requires a bit of finesse.

So, if it doesn't affect the image, I say leave it, but if it bothers you that much, then get on with it and do the job. :)
 

ejronin

New member
You can tell if it's dust or debris on the viewfinder pretty easily.

If it's in focus when you're looking through the viewfinder, it's likely the viewfinder but to be sure, if you move a q-tip over the mirror, you'll see it moving in the opposite direction of actual movement. So, if maneuver it over the spot(s) in question (don't actually touch the mirror or focus screen with something during this process), you can get an idea on where to look on both components. If you move the q-tip down and darken over the spot its at the bottom of the mirror or top of focus screen (for example). Then get a small flash light and a dental mirror and you can light up and inspect the inside compartment to see if there's maybe a knick or scratch on either the mirror or focus screen, but again, if i'ts in focus when you look through the viewfinder then it's the viewfinder.

Taking that apart to clean it out involves some tools and steps that I wouldn't advise anyone not very familiar, brave, stupid, or trained to do. I love taking things apart but I'd no sooner sandblast the front element of a Zeiss with playground sand than open the body of my D5300... I'd get the same results either way
 
Top